The Department of Justice is suing Uber for alleged discrimination against people with disabilities, accusing the company of “routinely” denying rides to passengers traveling with service animals and mobility devices like foldable wheelchairs.
The lawsuit, filed in Northern California district court, is seeking $125 million in compensation for people who have reported such instances of alleged discrimination.
According to prosecutors, the nation’s largest ride-sharing service and its drivers “routinely refuse to serve individuals with disabilities,” violating Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act — which bars discrimination by public accommodations and commercial facilities.
Uber also imposes “impermissible surcharges” by adding on cleaning costs for service animal shedding and cancellation fees to riders who have been “unlawfully denied service,” the feds said.
Additionally, the company has failed to modify its policies to accommodate riders with disabilities, including not allowing some passengers to sit in the front seat when needed — a practice prosecutors say has caused significant delays, missed appointments and left riders stranded in bad weather.
“For too long, blind riders have suffered repeated ride denials by Uber because they are traveling with a service dog,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division. “This lawsuit seeks to end this persistent discrimination and allow riders with disabilities to use Uber.”
In addition to $125 million, prosecutors are seeking a court order to force Uber to update its policies to comply with the ADA, train its staff and drivers on the relevant law and pay a civil penalty to “vindicate the public’s interest in eliminating disability discrimination.”
The federal lawsuit “underscores the United States’ commitment to enforcing the ADA’s promise of equal access,” U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian said in a statement.
Uber did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday.
